* Five Detroit-area bands -- the Wall Clocks, the Science Fair, Daniel Harrison & the $2 Highway, Levi Moore & the Difference and Evening in Red -- will compete Friday night, March 11, to represent the city in the Hard Rock Cafe's nationwide Battle of the Bands contest. The Detroit winner will go on to compete against winners from other Hard Rock cities, with the grand prize winner performing at the Hard Rock Calling 2011 festival during June in London's Hyde Park. The Detroit finals take begin at 8 p.m. at the Hard Rock Detroit, 45 Monroe St. inside the Compuware World Headquarters building. Admission is free. Call 313-964-7625 or visit www.hardrock.com.

* Veteran Detroit guitarist Bob Monteleone will celebrate his 50th birthday in public on Friday, March 11, with a bunch of friends -- including Dave Edwards, Stumbling Mice, Luck and Trouble, the Belle Islanders, Acoustic Madness, Robert Thibodeu and a reunion of the reggae band Black Market. The party starts at 8 p.m. at Callahan's Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd., Auburn Hills. Tickets are $5 in advance, $8 at the door. Call 248-858-9508 or visit www.atcallahans.com.

* Detroit drummer-turned-singer/songwriter Brae, still promoting his 2010 album "Eating at the World," headlines a show that also includes Bear Lake and The Strange on Friday, March 11, at the Pike Room in the Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw St, Pontac. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8. Call (248) 858-9333 or visit www.thecrofoot.com.

* Singer-songwriters Jan Krist and Jim Bizer join forces for a performance at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. Tickets are $15, $12 for members. Call 734-464-6302 or visit www.trinityhouse.org.